While country music has seen its share of ups and downs over the past few years, 2017 showed that America's favorite genre has continued to evolve into one of the most adaptable, inclusive and universally loved types of music. Whether it's Thomas Rhett's EDM-infused Life Changes or Alison Krauss' bluegrass stylings of country classics on Windy City, the best country albums of 2017 all share one thing in common: They pushed the genre to new heights.

Newcomers such as Midland and Luke Combs made this year's list of the Top 10 country albums for their unique takes on country music, while Chris Stapleton and Natalie Hemby records show that great songwriters often make great albums. Kelsea Ballerini continued to push the boundary between pop and country on her second studio album, while Lady Antebellum went back to basics for their sixth record.

Read on to learn all about The Boot's picks for the Top 10 country albums of 2017.

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